Union targets child protection staffing vacancies in the state's north west

The union representing Tasmanian child protection workers say the service is badly understaffed.

The Children's Minister Michelle O'Byrne told Parliament last week the department was working to solve staffing problems in the north west, after the Liberals claimed there were 20 full time equivalent vacant positions statewide.

Tom Lynch from the Community and Public Sector Union says there are not enough staff to cover cases in the north west, due to resignations and maternity leave.

He says the department is delaying filling vacancies.

"At one stage that left the response team down to just one person so one person to deal with all the cases that were referred to child protection in the north west that required a response from the service and that's simply not good enough," he said.

Dr Susan Diamond from the Department of Health and Human Services says there have been no cuts to child protection resources and they try to fill vacancies as soon as possible.

She says there are eight child protection worker positions vacant across the state.